Pulling apparatus



June 12, 1928. 1,673,179

W. C. BOWMAN PULLING APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 7441. Boy man.

'l W 2 ATTORNEYS.

June 12. 1928. 1,673,179

w. c. BOWMAN I PULLING APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0' 11x VENTOR. \W I f 744 CBon mmz,

ATTORNEYS. 9

Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. BOWMAN, F FRISCO, TEXAS.

PULLING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 6, 1927. Serial No. 203,698.

This invention relates to a pulling apparatus. for pulling railroad rails, and more particularly for pulling or drawing the contiguous ends of rails together.

The object of the invention is the provision of a simple and efficient apparatus, whereby the two contiguous ends of two rails can be quickly drawn together.

Another object of the invention is the provision of two peculiarly constructed clamp devices, connected by a rotary device, whereby when the clamp devices are fastened upon rails, said rails can be brought together by operating the rotary device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention comprises certain novel constructions. combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown mounted on two rails, while Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 4e-4t, Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55, Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the blocks.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the slidable cam plates.

Referring to the drawings: A and B are standard railroad rails. My apparatus comprises a pair of clamp devices 1. 1 connected by means of a rotary device 2. Each clamp device 1 comprises a slidable member or block 3. Block 3 comprises body 4 and head 5. In head 5 is a horizontal threaded aperture 6 (Fig. 6) into which the threaded spindle or rod 7 extends. The rotary device 2 includes said rod '7 and the enlarged portion 8; in the enlarged portion 8 are apertures 9* for receiving an operating instrument for turning the rotary device. thereby drawing the clamp devicesl together. In the body 4 of each block 3 are cam slots 9, 9 (Fig. 5); each of these slots 9 is wider at its inner end than atits outer end, for causing the slidable cam plate 10 to be forced inwardly, against the rail, as the cam plate is slid rearwardly upon the block (Fig. 4). Each cam plate is provided with a row of teeth 11 on its inner edge, to grip the rail, and an operating handle 12 is screwed into threaded socket 13 the operating handles 12 extend through horizontal elongated apertures 13 formed in the body 4 of the block; after the blocks are placed upon the rails, the operator can slide the cam plates 10 rearwardly, or towards the outer ends of the block, whereupon said plates will be in .position to tightly grip the rails when the rotary device 2 is operated for drawing the clamp devices towards each other, thereby causing the contiguous ends of the rails to be brought together.

It will, therefore, be seen that the two clamp devices of my apparatus each comprises a. block'in which are slidable cam plates for gripping the rail, and these two clamp devices are drawn towards each other by operating the rotary device, which is a threaded rod extending into said clamp devices.

In Figures 1 to 4, the apparatus is shown gripping rails. To loosen the apparatus, the rotary device can be manipulated, to cause the clamp devices to move away from each other, thereby loosening said clamp devices upon the rail and readily permitting the plates 10 to he slid, by an operator engaging the handles 12, towards the inner or contiguous ends of the blocks.

It will be understood that a rail can be forced or drawn up an incline, by fastening my apparatus at one end on a rail spiked to ties and then apply the other end to a loose rail, operating the rotary device for drawing the clamp devices or blocks towards each other and, consequently drawing the loose rail up hill.

It is to be noted that the greater the drawing strain upon the clamping devices, the greater will be the gripping or biting action of the teeth of the cam plates upon the rails, assuring of no slack or slipping of my device during operation. which results in a very efficient and practical apparatus.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention and illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates j during the extensive manufacture of tl'lBSflHlG, and I, therefore, reserve the right to make such changes or alterations provided with cam slots and with elongated apertures registering With said-slots cam plate slidably mounted in each cam Sdbt an operating handle fastened toeach-canl plate and positioned'in an elongated aperture, and a rotary. device connecting saidcam: devices.

2. In an apparatus of the,classdescribed, the combination of a pair of clamp devices each clamp device comprising a block,- said block including a body and a head, said body provided With cam slots andivit-h elongated apertures connnunicating with said slots, said apertures converging'l trom their inner ends towards theiroutcr'ends', cam plates in said cam slots, operating handles in said elongated apertures. and threaded at their lower ends intoisaid cam plates, said operating handles extending above said body, and-alrotary device extending into the heads of said blocks.

3-. In; an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair of clamp devices adapted-'to-fit over and straddle the tread of a rail or rails each clamp device comprising an upstanding head immediately above the rail and with an integral body extending '(lOWIl on both sldes of the Web of the rail,

said body provided at opposite sides ofthe Web of a rail With cam slots, cam means in said slots, opera-ting means extending down through the body and fixedlyfastened to the cam means whereby an operator 1 can move both theoperating means and the cam means, and rotary means connecting the heads whereby the clamp devices can beoperated With-respect to each other.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoatli'x my signature.

' WILLIAM? G. BOWllIAN. 

